Search results matching tag 'Selling'http://harcourtsorop.com/Community/search/SearchResults.aspx?o=DateDescending&tag=Selling&orTags=0Search results matching tag 'Selling'en-USCommunityServer 2.1 SP2 (Build: 61129.2)5 Ways To Enhance Curb Appeal Through The Holidayshttp://harcourtsorop.com/Community/blogs/buyingselling/archive/2016/12/01/5-ways-to-enhance-curb-appeal-through-the-holidays.aspxThu, 01 Dec 2016 21:49:00 GMT9db389ec-2176-4ccd-9c70-0c367728e141:161TerryD
<p><b>You don't have to pretend the
holidays don't exist if your home is on the market this time of year.</b></p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.trulia.com/blog/winter-curb-appeal-beyond-christmas-decorations/"><img alt="Enchance your curb appeal" title="Enchance your curb appeal" src="https://dwtd9qkskt5ds.cloudfront.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Snow-Covered-House-12-2.jpg" width="500" height="333"></a>&nbsp;</p><p>View this blog by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.trulia.com/blog/author/bmiller/">Blake Miller</a> online at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.trulia.com/blog/winter-curb-appeal-beyond-christmas-decorations/">Trulia.com </a><br></p>
<p>Selling a home during the holidays can be
tricky. Decorations could turn off potential buyers, who may have been interested
in buying that <a href="http://www.trulia.com/SD/Sioux_Falls/">home for sale in Sioux Falls, SD</a> - if they hadn't
been distracted by the huge collection of inflatable decor in the front yard.</p>
<p>"<a href="http://www.trulia.com/blog/7-ways-to-kick-your-curb-appeal-up-a-notch/">Curb appeal</a> is an important element of real
estate at any time of the year," says professional home stager Krisztina M.
Bell of Virtually Staging Properties Inc. in Atlanta<b>.</b> <b>"</b>During the
holiday season, curb appeal often takes on a new meaning as people decorate
their homes and landscapes to reflect the joy [of the season]. There is a fine
line between attractive outdoor decorating and pushing the limits, especially
when staging a home during the holidays."</p>
<p>The good news is that you don't have to
completely avoid holiday decor. In fact, says <a href="http://www.trulia.com/profile/justin-udy-agent-salt-lake-city-ut-zgbgk3rq/overview">Justin Udy</a>, a real estate agent with Century 21
Everest Realty Group in Midvale, UT, "homes can actually show <i>better</i>
during the holidays."</p>
<p>Here are five ways to enhance your home's
curb appeal during the holidays.</p>
<p><b>Light it up</b></p>
<p>"A well-lit entryway provides a charming
invitation for guests or potential homebuyers," says Bell. "Use LED candles or
lanterns with globes to light entryway steps and walkways. If there is a wreath
or arrangement on the door, place a spotlight on that area to highlight the
festive accessory and create a warm, welcoming glow."</p>
<p>If you must <a href="http://www.trulia.com/blog/11-unusual-ways-to-decorate-with-string-lights/">decorate with string lights</a>, white lights are
best, adds Bell. "White outdoor lights on the outside of a home are
recommended, and are inspiring and beautiful," Bell says.</p>
<p><b>Skip the kitsch</b></p>
<p>While you may adore that waving Santa
inflatable in your yard or shrubs covered in colored lights, rethink bold
statement decorations when your house is on the market. "Avoid the blowup
snowman, reindeer, and the like strewn about on the front lawn, as you don't
want to distract and take away from the features of the home," says Bell. "Less
is best."</p>
<p><b>Keep it minimal</b></p>
<p>Similar to when you're <a href="http://www.trulia.com/blog/5-smart-staging-tips/">getting your home ready to sell</a> when it's <i>not </i>the
holiday season, the concept of less is more also holds true this time of year.
(So keep the <a href="http://www.trulia.com/blog/5-staging-projects-that-buyers-love/">tchotchkes to a minimum</a>.)</p>
<p>"It is key to maintain a very clean and
crisp appearance," says <a href="http://www.trulia.com/profile/joshua-myler-agent---zg76kkgy/overview">Josh Myler</a>, a real estate agent with The Agency
in Los Angeles. "Buyers want to feel comfortable but also have the room to
envision their own belongings and decorations in what might just be their new
home. Clutter is never a good thing, and the&nbsp;holidays&nbsp;have a tendency
to bring out more of it."</p>
<p><b>Create vignettes</b></p>
<p>Focus on simple yet eye-pleasing holiday
vignettes throughout your home. "Create a vignette in a wheelbarrow, or use a
small section of patio," suggests Bell. "Use simple holiday decorations,
plants, and other items to create an attractive scene to <a href="http://www.trulia.com/blog/holiday-decorations-curb-appeal-through-winter/">spruce up outdoor spaces</a>."</p>
<p><b>Fashion a welcoming entry</b></p>
<p>If you decide to rid your home of all
holiday decor except for a few key items, make it a wreath on your door. "One
of the great things about wreaths is that they can easily be customized to
match the personality of the home," says Bell. "A simple live wreath on the
front door is classy. Add a big bow for major impact."</p>
<p>- See more at:
https://www.trulia.com/blog/winter-curb-appeal-beyond-christmas-decorations/#sthash.xEBO2gCN.dpuf</p>7 Things Your Home Inspector Wish You Knewhttp://harcourtsorop.com/Community/blogs/buyingselling/archive/2016/11/30/7-things-your-home-inspector-wish-you-knew.aspxWed, 30 Nov 2016 16:17:00 GMT9db389ec-2176-4ccd-9c70-0c367728e141:160TerryD<div class="article-content margin-bottom pos-relative" id="article-body">
<h1 class="headline"><a target="_blank" title="7 Things Your Home inspector Wishes You Knew" href="http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/7-things-your-home-inspector-wishes-you-knew/">7 Things Your Home Inspector Wishes You Knew</a></h1>
<div class="margin-bottom">
<span class="article-author-by-line link-secondary">
By <a rel="author" href="http://www.realtor.com/author/jamiewiebe"><span>Jamie Wiebe</span></a></span> | <span>Jul 30, 2015&nbsp; Posted on Realto.com @ <a target="_blank" href="http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/7-things-your-home-inspector-wishes-you-knew/">http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/7-things-your-home-inspector-wishes-you-knew/</a></span></div><div class="margin-bottom">&nbsp;</div><div class="margin-bottom"><img alt="Home Inspection" title="Home Inspection" src="http://rdcnewscdn.realtor.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/home-inspector-GettyImages-83590749-1024x683.jpg" width="1024" height="683">&nbsp;</div><p>No matter&nbsp;whether&nbsp;you’re buying or selling, the home
inspection process can be somewhat&nbsp;terrifying: For sellers, it’s a stark
reminder of the nagging issues you might have turned a blind eye to
over the years. And for buyers,&nbsp;it’s a recipe for pure
heartbreak—falling in love with a home that might just end up making no
sense to buy.</p>
<p>But don’t let the inspection stress you out. And remember, that’s not
what your inspector wants either—all he or she wants&nbsp;is&nbsp;a
comprehensive&nbsp;to-do list and a happy client.</p>
<p>So form a team with your home inspector to make the process easier
and more effective. Knowledge is key! Here are seven essential things
you&nbsp;keep in mind.</p>
<h1>For sellers</h1>
<h2>1. Move your pets</h2>
<p>We know your puppy is adorable—but even if your home inspector&nbsp;<em>loves</em> dogs or cats, pets running underfoot makes the job much more difficult.</p>
<p>Inspections&nbsp;often require opening exterior doors again and again,
offering pets far too many opportunities to&nbsp;dash to freedom.&nbsp;When you
leave the premises for the inspection—and many inspectors ask sellers to
do so—take your pets with you. Please.</p>
<p>With animals out of the way, “every time I walk in or out, I don’t have to worry about losing a cat or a dog,” says <strong>Alan Singer </strong>of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sterlinghomeinspections.com/">Sterling Home Inspections</a> in <a target="_blank" href="http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Armonk_NY">Armonk, NY</a>.</p>
<h2>2. Don’t forget to clean</h2>
<p>Whether you plan on being there for the inspection or not, make
sure&nbsp;to clean up beforehand. No, you don’t need to scrub—an inspector
won’t ding you because your stove’s grimy. But all that clutter? Yeah,
that’s all got to go.</p>
<p>“It makes a huge difference when I walk into a house where
everything’s put away,” Singer says. “It’s a game changer not just for
me, but for the home buyer.”</p>
<p>Often, the inspection is the first time the&nbsp;buyers are&nbsp;(almost)&nbsp;alone in the house for an extended period of time.</p>
<p>“If it doesn’t feel like how it did before—if we’re trying to dig through items—it can sour their experience,” Singer says.</p>
<h1>For buyers</h1>
<h2>1. Your potential home&nbsp;<em>will</em> have problems</h2>
<p>Your home inspector will likely come up with a seemingly endless list of problems after the walk-through. Don’t panic!</p>
<p>“I’m on their side, but still, I’m judging the house fairly,” Singer
says. “Even my home has problems, issues, maintenance things.”</p>
<p>Yeah, there are times when you should worry (we’ll get to those a bit
later). But not every issue is mission-critical, and your inspector
will know which problems you should tackle first.</p>
<h2>2. Almost anything can be fixed</h2>
<p>There are a few starkly&nbsp;frightening&nbsp;home inspection terms that seem to be in everyone’s vocabulary: mold, radon, and asbestos.</p>
<p>And yes, they’re scary—but no scarier than a roof that needs replacing, home inspectors say.</p>
<p>“People who write articles tend to scare homeowners about mold or radon,” Singer says.</p>
<p>So let us—your humble (and rather defensive) writers—take a moment to
correct that&nbsp;assumption: Don’t worry so much about mold and radon!</p>
<p>Singer, who started his career in homebuilding, says, “everything is
upgradable, fixable, or replaceable. You just need to have a list of
what those things are.”</p>
<p>Not convinced yet? Check out this <a target="_blank" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/mold-what-every-homeowner-fears-but-probably-shouldnt/2013/10/24/3af5cd0c-3810-11e3-8a0e-4e2cf80831fc_story.html">Washington Post&nbsp;article</a> about a couple who&nbsp;got a discount on a four-bedroom Colonial because they weren’t terrified by mold.</p>
<h2>3. One thing you&nbsp;should worry about is water</h2>
<p>Here’s one problem we give you permission to stress out about (just a
little): water. No, it’s not a deal breaker (remember that part where
we wrote&nbsp;almost anything can be fixed?). But it’s important
to&nbsp;address&nbsp;any water-related issues before the deal closes—or at least
immediately afterward.</p>
<p>Make a note of issues such as&nbsp;puddles and leaky ceilings. And give
special attention to the basement. Addressing water problems in&nbsp;the
basement can be an expensive and difficult proposition, Singer says. “A
wet basement can be hard to fix.”</p>
<h2>4. Home inspectors&nbsp;can’t predict the future</h2>
<p>You might want to know how many more years the&nbsp;roof will hold up—and
while your inspector might be able to give you a rough estimate,&nbsp;he
can’t give you a precise timeline.</p>
<p>“People think that we as inspectors have a crystal ball,” Singer
says. “Or that we have X-ray vision” to see through walls&nbsp;or examine the
inner circuitry of your kitchen stove.</p>
<p>Sorry, folks: They don’t, and they can’t.</p>
<p>“We can’t tell you how long it will last,” Singer says. “We can just tell you if it’s in good shape.”</p>
<h2>5. Find the balance&nbsp;between your heart and brain</h2>
<p>It’s easy to forget your love for the home when you’re counting the
dollar signs and hours you might have to spend on repairs. But just
remember to take a deep breath, think rationally, and consider whether
it’s a smart investment in your future.</p>
<p>Singer empathizes: “The&nbsp;justification can sometimes be a horrible
process, because our brains are all about money and time and (asking)
‘What kind of mistake am I making?’”</p>
<p>Barring any major&nbsp;renovations needed—such as a new roof or mold
removal—your inspector’s visit will simply provide a to-do list. But not
everything needs fixing immediately, so don’t let a long list dampen
your love for the home. Just take things one at a time.</p>
</div>
<div class="display-inline">Jamie Wiebe has written
about home design and real estate for House Beautiful, Elle Decor,
Veranda, and more. She loves vintage furniture, collecting fluffy
blankets, and DIY-ing everything..</div>